Closure for collapsible tubes opened by bringing a toothbrush into receiving position



F. SHANNON 2,589,152

March 11, 1952 w CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES OPENED BY BRINGING A TOOTHBRUSH INTO RECEIVING POSITION Filed April 2 1951 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. WA RREN FSHA lV/VON ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1952 CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES -OPENED BY BRINGING A TOOTHBRUSH INTO RECEIVING POSITION Warren F. Shannon, Beaumont, Tex.

Application April 2, 1951, Serial No. 218,742 2 Claims. (01. 222 127) The invention concerns a closure for collapsible tubes, and is particularly applicable to toothpaste tubes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a closure for toothpaste tubes which may be opened and closed simultaneously with the step of bringing the end of the toothbrush into position to receive toothpaste from the tube.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement in which the closure may be opened and closed, and the toothbrush may be brought into position to receive toothpaste from the tube, by a single motion of the hand holding the toothbrush.

The invention contemplates a closure for toothpaste tubes which may be opened and closed by simply moving the end of the toothbrush in and out of engagement with the discharge end of the tube.

The invention further contemplates a closure for toothpaste tubes including a spring biased, swinging closure member adapted to be swung into open position by pressing the end of the toothbrush against the closure member.

An advantageous feature of the invention is that it provides an arrangement in which the end of the toothbrush is held in close proximity to the discharge end of the toothpaste tube as toothpaste is discharged therefrom, whereby toothpaste is forced between the bristles of the toothbrush.

Another advantageous feature of the invention is that the discharge end of the toothpaste tube is swept free of toothpaste by the action of the toothbrush and the swinging closure member as the toothbrush is disengaged from the end of the tube.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a toothpaste tube having a closure embodying the invention, a toothbrush being shown in operative position with respect to the closure and the closure being shown in open position as acted upon by the end of the toothbrush.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the closure, partly in section, showing the closure in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the closure, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I indicates an ordinary toothpaste tube and the numeral 2 indicates an ordinary toothbrush.

The closure of the invention includes a cap 3, which may be internally threaded for engagement with the externally threaded discharge nozzle (not shown) of the tube I. Alternatively, the cap 3 may be permanently attached to the discharge end of the tube l. A small opening, shown in dotted lines in Fig, 2, is formed in the center of the cap 3 for discharging the contents of the tube I.

A housing comprising a pair of parallel side members 4 and a top member 5 is superimposed upon the cap 3, the lower ends of the side members 4 being formed integrally with the cap 3. The surface of the top of the cap 3 between the side members 4 is curved downwardly toward the center for engagement with a swinging closure member as hereinafter described.

A swinging closure member is disposed between the side members 4. The closure member is formed from a continuous strip of material which is bent intermediate its ends to form a cap engaging portion 6 and a connecting portion 1. The cap engaging portion 6 is curved downwardly toward the center, the radius of the cap engaging portion 6 corresponding to the radius of the surface of the top of the cap 3. The connecting portion 1 is pivotally connected at one end to a pin 8 which is connected at its ends to the upper portions of the side members 4. The arrangement is such that the closure member may be swung outwardly into open position by inserting the end of the toothbrush 2 between the side members 4 and pressing the end of the toothbrush 2 against the connecting portion 1. One end of a coil spring 9, which is looped about the pin 8, bears against the top member 5 while the other end of the spring 9 bears against the connecting portion 1 whereby the closure member is returned to closed position when it is not acted upon by the end of the toothbrush 2. A projection It is formed on one end of the cap engaging portion 6, the projection l0 engaging the top of the cap 3 and limiting the movement of the closure member in response to the action of the spring 9.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A closure for collapsible tubes comprising a cap secured to the discharge end of the tube, an opening being formed in the center of the cap and communicating with the interior of the tube, a housing having a pair of parallel sides and a top being superimposed upon the cap and formed integrally therewith, a swinging closure member disposed between the sides of the housing and pivotally connected thereto, and a spring bearing against the housing and acting upon the closure member whereby the closure member is normally maintained in closed position, the surface of the top of the cap between the sides of the housing being curved downwardly toward the center and the closure member having a cap engaging portion which is curved downwardly toward the center, the radius of the cap engaging portion corresponding to the radius of the surface of the top of the cap.

2. A closure for collapsible tubes comprising a cap secured to the discharge end of the tube; an opening being formed in the center of the cap and communicating with the interior of the tube, a housing having a pair of parallel sides and a top being superimposed upon the cap and formedintegrally therewith, a swinging closure member disposed between the sides of the housing and pivotally connected thereto, and a spring bearing 20 against the housing and acting upon the closure member whereby the'closure member is normally maintained in closed position, the surface of-the projection formed integrally therewith adapted to engage the cap whereby the movement Of the closure member in response to the action of the spring is limited.

WARREN F. SHANNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,299,758 Muliaby Apr. 8, 1919 1,788,181 Wolf Jan. 6, 1931 2,529,817 Russell Nov. 14, 1950 

